Puncture: The Inside Story

How I made a Hollywood movie with absolutely no Hollywood experience and a little inspiration from my rabbi.

Have you ever watched a movie -- one of those terrible movies -- and thought to yourself, “I could do that. I could make a movie. In fact, my life is so fascinating that it would make an incredible movie!” Come on, I know I’m not the only crazy person who thought that. What may make me different however is that I may have been one of the few crazy people who actually followed through.

Indeed, with absolutely no “Hollywood” experience, I just executive produced a movie called Puncture starring Chris Evans (Captain America) which will be in select theatres shortly.

My story began in, of all places, shul.

My story (the story behind the story that is) began in, of all places, shul. I was sitting in the children’s service when the rabbi came in to explain the Torah portion Lech Lecha to the kids. He explained how Abraham had a comfortable life making idols. But that God had commanded Abraham to “go forth”. The rabbi said that as Jews we have an obligation to try new things, take risks and make the world a better place. I thought about the rabbi’s lesson to the kids but realized he was really speaking to me.

I, like Abraham, had grown complacent. I was a successful attorney, had tried some high profile cases, but felt like there was more that I could do. In particular, thanks to one of the cases that I tried, I had an important story that I believed the world needed to hear.

Years ago, my partner Mike Weiss and I took on a case involving a local ER nurse who was infected with AIDS by an accidental needle stick. Once involved in the case I realized the significant issues involved including:

- Accidental needle sticks cause thousands of US nurses, doctors, and patients to be infected by AIDS, Hepatitis C and other infectious diseases every year;

- Large Group Purchasing Organizations are preventing new and life saving medical products from getting to market and costing the US health care system over $37 billion a year.

The case settled, but my mind never did. So in 2004 I decided to write an autobiographical screenplay about our case. I decided that our story needed to be turned into a film. There was a problem though: my screenplay was …uh…shall we say “weak.”

Hollywood rule number one: never write an autobiographical screenplay. Rule number one, broken.

Undeterred, I hired a New York based screenwriter named Ela Thier to take my vision and rewrite it. And she did. Superbly.

Everyone I knew in the movie business told me that the only way to get your screenplay made is to find an agent who will show it to the right people. The last thing you want to do, everyone told me, was to send copies of your screenplay to production companies, movie studios and actors. That’s a complete waste of time. But that’s exactly what I did.

Ninety percent of the scripts that I sent out were returned to me unread. But I did manage to get two phone calls, and I flew to New York immediately to meet with both groups. By the end of the trip I had a deal with filmmakers Mark and Adam Kassen. The deal terms were that I’d give them a year and a half to rewrite the script, and try and attach a star and in return they would give me nothing. I know -- as a lawyer, not the best deal I’ve ever negotiated.

About 15 months later, they rewrote the script -- by Chris Lopata, and they signed an “A list” star -- Chris Evans. But there was only one problem: we had no money.

Mark and Adam Kassen told me bluntly, “If you raise the money, we’ll make the movie.”

And this brings us back to that day during the rabbi’s speech about Lech Lecha. I, like Abraham, had to take action. It was time to take a risk. At that moment, I decided that would put up the money to make the movie.

I realized that the money that I would put into this highly speculative and risky venture was like an idol - it had to be smashed. So I invested my money along with some additional capital that I raised from some friends to make the movie.

Hollywood rule number three: never, under any circumstances, put up the money to finance your own film. Rule number three, broken.

But as the saying goes, “rules are made to be broken,” and good thing they are. Puncture was admitted to the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival and selected to serve as one of the spotlight premieres. Millennium Films acquired the distribution rights and the film will open in select cities shortly.

So with this ten year movie making adventure coming to a close, I often find myself sitting in shul and wondering what lessons I’ve learned.

Well, I’ve learned that since we were exiled from the Garden of Eden, humanity has had to struggle. Struggle to do good deeds -- yes, but that is not enough. We must also struggle against injustice. We shouldn’t get discouraged if life presents us with seemingly insurmountable obstacles. We should face them fervently, because God has given them to us, and he knows full well that these obstacles are in fact very surmountable.

These are some of the lessons I’ve learned sitting through years of my rabbi’s sermons…and from making a Hollywood movie. So the next time you see someone dozing while the rabbi is talking, be sure to wake him up. He may be missing a life changing experience!

Puncture opened on September 23 in New York, Los Angeles and Houston and nationwide later in the fall.

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About the Author

Paul Danzinger is a partner at the law firm of Danziger & De Llano. He is also Executive Producer on the film Puncture starring Chris Evans. Paul is married to Dr. Susan Danziger & lives in Houston, Texas with their four children.

Visitor Comments: 10

(8)
Renee,
April 28, 2013 8:05 PM

Better?

This movie was just amazing. I am so glad it was able to be made! It's a movie that has really stuck in my mind.

(7)
Theresa,
August 1, 2012 4:01 PM

Puncture made me cry, but in a good way. I see how one man's passion for something had to carry on, with or without him. As a result, it made changes within the medical community. A great eye opener and I appreciate your passion for informing us the origins of the changes. I love true stories and this was truly a good one.

(6)
George,
March 15, 2012 10:29 AM

Do not be afraid!!!

Great Movie!!! This movie reminds me of this bible passage on courage:
When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you. Deuteronomy 20:1,
RIP Michael

(5)
Onyx Astrid,
February 12, 2012 8:22 PM

I just watched Puncture and I just have to say thank you for making this movie. It was an amazing movie that outlined some hard-hitting facts about needle safety, amongst other things. Reading how this movie came about really just made me appreciate it more. I'm curious just like the user 'Gigi' about the movie as I was unable to find any proper details about the true story behind the film. Please answer me one question: did you really suspect foul play in Mike's death? And what happened to the Large group purchasing organizations involved? Did it end up just like the tabacco litigations back in the 90s? I mean, a lot of people still use cigarettes so does that mean that hospitals still use plastic syringes despite the available and much more safe option of the safety needle? I'm in the middle of my undergraduate degree in Nursing and have found this movie more that interesting but it certainly raised a lot of questions in my mind that just won't go away...

Renee,
April 28, 2013 8:07 PM

Agreed.

I would really like to know the answers as well! Please let me know if you get a response.

(4)
Gigi,
November 22, 2011 12:05 AM

I am living in Belgium and I have seen this film. It was truely, truely excellent. It goes to show that you do not need one of the"major's" to make a great film. Bravo to you and the K bro's. My only complaint is, everytime I see a film based on a true story, I like to then go online and research all the real details that a fllm doesn't allot for. Your story about the Rabbi was cute, but I have been unable to go online and find any real signifigant details on this story/case?? Please outline the findings of the case verdict, who the senitor was/is she still in office, what happened to the opposing legal team, do you really suspect foul play in Mikes death, etc.?? We need answers to fully appreciate this special film. Thanks

(3)
Amir Kovacs,
November 9, 2011 12:01 AM

Great article

The question I have is how do you do it without being able to put up your own money? How do you attach an actor without having the show-me money if you don't know an agent who's willing to do so...

(2)
Melbourne,
September 26, 2011 12:52 PM

Great story....

Thanks for sharing how this movie was made, I hope it makes its way to Australia.

Theresa,
August 1, 2012 4:03 PM

I am a screenwriter so you have inspired me to go for what I know...

(1)
PAULINE BORSUK DANZIGER,
September 26, 2011 9:18 AM

WONDERFUL TRUE MOVIE

BRAVO TO THE WRITER OF THE SCRIPT. TOOK COURAGE IT DESERVES AN AWARD AS ITS A TRUE STORY....AND MAYBE MORE PEOPLE WILL LIVE AND NOT BE INFECTED WITH DIRTY NEEDLES..

I just got married and have an important question: Can we eat rice on Passover? My wife grew up eating it, and I did not. Is this just a matter of family tradition?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

The Torah instructs a Jew not to eat (or even possess) chametz all seven days of Passover (Exodus 13:3). "Chametz" is defined as any of the five grains (wheat, spelt, barley, oats, and rye) that came into contact with water for more than 18 minutes. Chametz is a serious Torah prohibition, and for that reason we take extra protective measures on Passover to prevent any mistakes.

Hence the category of food called "kitniyot" (sometimes referred to generically as "legumes"). This includes rice, corn, soy beans, string beans, peas, lentils, peanuts, mustard, sesame seeds and poppy seeds. Even though kitniyot cannot technically become chametz, Ashkenazi Jews do not eat them on Passover. Why?

Products of kitniyot often appear like chametz products. For example, it can be hard to distinguish between rice flour (kitniyot) and wheat flour (chametz). Also, chametz grains may become inadvertently mixed together with kitniyot. Therefore, to prevent confusion, all kitniyot were prohibited.

In Jewish law, there is one important distinction between chametz and kitniyot. During Passover, it is forbidden to even have chametz in one's possession (hence the custom of "selling chametz"). Whereas it is permitted to own kitniyot during Passover and even to use it - not for eating - but for things like baby powder which contains cornstarch. Similarly, someone who is sick is allowed to take medicine containing kitniyot.

What about derivatives of kitniyot - e.g. corn oil, peanut oil, etc? This is a difference of opinion. Many will use kitniyot-based oils on Passover, while others are strict and only use olive or walnut oil.

Finally, there is one product called "quinoa" (pronounced "ken-wah" or "kin-o-ah") that is permitted on Passover even for Ashkenazim. Although it resembles a grain, it is technically a grass, and was never included in the prohibition against kitniyot. It is prepared like rice and has a very high protein content. (It's excellent in "cholent" stew!) In the United States and elsewhere, mainstream kosher supervision agencies certify it "Kosher for Passover" -- look for the label.

Interestingly, the Sefardi Jewish community does not have a prohibition against kitniyot. This creates the strange situation, for example, where one family could be eating rice on Passover - when their neighbors will not. So am I going to guess here that you are Ashkenazi and your wife is Sefardi. Am I right?

Yahrtzeit of Rabbi Moses ben Nachman (1194-1270), known as Nachmanides, and by the acronym of his name, Ramban. Born in Spain, he was a physician by trade, but was best-known for authoring brilliant commentaries on the Bible, Talmud, and philosophy. In 1263, King James of Spain authorized a disputation (religious debate) between Nachmanides and a Jewish convert to Christianity, Pablo Christiani. Nachmanides reluctantly agreed to take part, only after being assured by the king that he would have full freedom of expression. Nachmanides won the debate, which earned the king's respect and a prize of 300 gold coins. But this incensed the Church: Nachmanides was charged with blasphemy and he was forced to flee Spain. So at age 72, Nachmanides moved to Jerusalem. He was struck by the desolation in the Holy City -- there were so few Jews that he could not even find a minyan to pray. Nachmanides immediately set about rebuilding the Jewish community. The Ramban Synagogue stands today in Jerusalem's Old City, a living testimony to his efforts.

It's easy to be intimidated by mean people. See through their mask. Underneath is an insecure and unhappy person. They are alienated from others because they are alienated from themselves.

Have compassion for them. Not pity, not condemning, not fear, but compassion. Feel for their suffering. Identify with their core humanity. You might be able to influence them for the good. You might not. Either way your compassion frees you from their destructiveness. And if you would like to help them change, compassion gives you a chance to succeed.

It is the nature of a person to be influenced by his fellows and comrades (Rambam, Hil. De'os 6:1).

We can never escape the influence of our environment. Our life-style impacts upon us and, as if by osmosis, penetrates our skin and becomes part of us.

Our environment today is thoroughly computerized. Computer intelligence is no longer a science-fiction fantasy, but an everyday occurrence. Some computers can even carry out complete interviews. The computer asks questions, receives answers, interprets these answers, and uses its newly acquired information to ask new questions.

Still, while computers may be able to think, they cannot feel. The uniqueness of human beings is therefore no longer in their intellect, but in their emotions.

We must be extremely careful not to allow ourselves to become human computers that are devoid of feelings. Our culture is in danger of losing this essential aspect of humanity, remaining only with intellect. Because we communicate so much with unfeeling computers, we are in danger of becoming disconnected from our own feelings and oblivious to the feelings of others.

As we check in at our jobs, and the computer on our desk greets us with, "Good morning, Mr. Smith. Today is Wednesday, and here is the agenda for today," let us remember that this machine may indeed be brilliant, but it cannot laugh or cry. It cannot be happy if we succeed, or sad if we fail.

Today I shall...

try to remain a human being in every way - by keeping in touch with my own feelings and being sensitive to the feelings of others.

With stories and insights,
Rabbi Twerski's new book Twerski on Machzor makes Rosh Hashanah prayers more meaningful. Click here to order...